In the heat of a Turkish summer's day, the smell of fresh olive oil and heavy sweat lingers in the air. The atmosphere is tense, as the melodious tribal beat from the tradition instruments summons the spirits of these athletes.



This book is a photographic documentary of a unique and ancient event. The Kirkpinar Turkish oil wresting competition, the world’s oldest continuously sanctioned sporting competition running for almost 650 years. Wrestlers, both young and old, travel from around the Middle East and Eastern Europe to take part in this annual event. The images, looking more like they have been taken at set for a Hollywood movie about the Spartans, recreate the ancient warriors of past times. These images of power and domination represents masculinity in its purest of forms, in this display of unbelievable stamina, strength, and agility